Businesses warned of advertising scam

BUSINESSES in Carmarthenshire are being warned about a scam claiming to sell advertising space on behalf of ‘police community support’.

Police and Trading Standards have received a number of reports from small businesses in the county that have been targeted over the telephone and by post.

A man has phoned or sent letters to a number of businesses claiming to be local and selling advertising space in either magazines or on calendars for ‘police community support’.

Cllr Anthony Jones, local member for Llandybie, took a call for the Ammanford Miners Association from a company who portrayed themselves as local but when questioned were based in Chester.

He said: “They wanted £100 to take out an advert which they said would support the local community police partnership, which I thought was suspicious and when I started asking questions they became very evasive.”

Rogue ‘publishers’ may persuade people to pay for adverts in publications that do not exist, or are not what people are led to believe.

Cllr Jones contacted the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership which confirmed it was not something they were supporting or would benefit from.

Community Safety Inspector Tony Ward said: “I’d like to remind people that cold calling by phone is often accompanied by high pressure sales techniques and inflated prices. Often the caller is trying to sell you something you don’t want and it can be difficult to find out whether or not the caller is genuine.”

Businesses are being advised:

DO NOT agree to place an advert over the telephone unless you are absolutely happy with the publisher with whom you are dealing and what you are being offered.

DO NOT give out any financial information over the phone. Insist on seeing written details and a copy of the publisher’s full terms and conditions before placing an order.

Executive Board Member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Business people can be vulnerable to these ‘publishing’ scams. If you are contacted by anyone offering to sell advertising space, carry out some research before agreeing to enter into a contract, especially over the telephone. Bank details should not be given in any circumstances.”

A comprehensive guide to help protect small businesses from such scams has been compiled by Trading Standards and any business within Carmarthenshire who would like a copy can contact the team on 01267 234567 or email tradingstandards@carmarthenshire.gov.uk